He was sitting in a booth inside an upscale steakhouse in downtown Toronto one morning this week. Television cameras jockeyed for a clearer view by his table. Two blocks away, the skating rink at City Hall had been converted into a football field; another attraction in a weeklong festival built around the 100th anniversary Grey Cup, a game that will feature the Toronto Argonauts and Ray, their starting quarterback.

That is the glamorous part of Ray’s story, to go with the two Grey Cup titles already on his résumé. The foundation of his story, the part he was shrugging off out of modesty in the steakhouse, is not glamorous. Not unless delivering potato chips is glamorous.

TORONTO — Toronto defensive tackle Adriano Belli says he likes and respects Kevin Glenn, but that won’t stop him from trying to put big hits on the Calgary quarterback during the Grey Cup game.

“I am a true fan of Kevin,” Belli said Saturday. “When I decided to retire [after the 2010 season], he tried to convince he to come out of retirement to play for the Cats [Hamilton Tiger-Cats].

“He gave me a phone call and I appreciate that. I’d welcome him in my home. I’d make him dinner any time. I love the little guy. But [Sunday], I want to rip his head off.”

Of course, Belli says everything with a mischievous little smile to let you know he is at least somewhat joking.

But his admiration for Glenn was clearly on the level.

“He’s a resilient little S.O.B.” he added. “He pulls stuff out of his hat.

“I’m a huge fan of his. I think their team is so much better with him starting. He’s made for this league. In my opinion, he’s the closest thing to playing like [Doug] Flutie since Flutie played.”

Belli was called out of retirement late in the season to bolster the Toronto defensive line and has become a regular, but the veteran has been adamant that the Grey Cup game on Sunday will be his last as a player.